Race-game apparatus



R. M. BRENNER.

RACE GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1919.

Patented July 13, 1920.

lA/VENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

RICHARD M. BRENNER, or PALISADE, NEW' JERSEY.

RACE-GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentea' J l 13 1920 Application filedDecember 10, 1919. Serial No. 343,759.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD M. BRENNER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Palisade, in the countyof Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and ImprovedRace-Game 'Apparatus, of

which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

' The invention relates to race game apparatus, such as shown anddescribed in, the Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,011,563,granted to me December 12, 1911,

and No. 1,203,474, granted to me October 31,

simultaneously to manipulate racing objects,

- such as figures representing horses, for instance, with a view tocause such racing objects to travel over individual tracks therebysimulating a race, the winning of which is solely dependent on the skillof the players.

Another object is to provide a race game apparatus which is exceedinglysimple and durable in construction, and in which it requires but littlephysical exertion on the part of the players to manipulate the racingtables on which the racing objects travel.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims.

A; practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the race game apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged inverted sectional plan view of the rheostat, thesection being on the line 22 of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the front end of oneof the racing tables with the corresponding racing object in circuitclosing position, the circuit switch being of modified form; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the front end of the race game apparatus withthe racing tables provided with the modified form of closing switch. I

On a suitably constructed frame or stand the form of a box having anopen top provided with longitudinally extending partitions 12 dividingthe open top into spaces 13 1n whlch are mounted a plurality oflongitudlnally extending narrow .racing tables 14, over which areadapted to travel racing obects 15, such as figures representing horsesand ockeys or the like, as plainly indicated 1n Flgs. l and 3. Theracing objects 15 start simultaneously from the rear rightha-nd ends ofthe tables 14 and finish at the forward left-hand ends of thesaid-tables.

The several tables 14 and the means for moving the same forward andbackward are alike, and 1t sufi'ices to describe but one in detail. Eachtable 14 is supported on sets of parallel links 20 havlng t eir upperpivots 21 attached to the under side of the tables 14 while the lowerpivots 22 engage longitudinally extending slots 23 formed in thepartitions 12. The links 20 are adjusted so that they stand in anapproximately verti-' cal position at-the time the table 14 is at theend of its forward stroke, while the links 20 swing downward andrearward during the return stroke of the table so that on the forwardstroke the table 14 moves forward and upward, and during the returnstroke moves downward and rearward. The racing objects 15 are soadjusted in weight that during the forward and upward stroke of thetables 14 they remain stationary on their tables, while during thedownward and rearward stroke the racing objects move forward from thestarting endjftoward' the finishing end.

The speed-at which the tables 14 moves forward and backward iscontrolled by a number of players corresponding to. the

reason that if the player moves his racing table at. too slow a speedthe racing object 10, is mounted a support 11, preferably in I 'numberof the tables, so that each player will move forward too slowly to winthe race while if the player moves his racing table too fast and becomesexcited the racing objects are notliable' to move forward at all but,owing to the excessive vibration createdin moving the table too fast,commence to dance or fall and thus are taken out of the race. If theplayer intends-to run the table? at an excessive speed it's drivingpower is shut off and the table comes to a standstill.

In order to accomplish the desired result,-

the under side of each racing table 14 is 'provided near its forward endwith adepending bracket 30 connected by a pitman 31 with a wrist pin 32held on a gear wheel 33, the shaft 34 of which is preferably journaledon the frame 35 of a motor 36, preferably of the electric type, andmounted on the bottom of the support 11. The gear wheel 33 is in meshwith a gear wheel 37 securedon the shaft 38 of the motor 36 and hencewhen. the motor is running the pitman 31 imparts a forward and backwardtraveling motion to the table 14. The wires 40 and 41 of the electricmotor 36 are connected with a battery 42 or other suitable source ofelectric energy, and a switch 43 is arranged in the wire 41 to open orclose-the circuit for theelectric motor. The circuit wires 40 and 41 arealso connected with a rheostat having a plurality of fixed spacedcontacts 51 and a movable contact 52 adapted to engage the fixedcontacts 51 to gradually increase or decrease the speed of the motoraccording to the direction in which the movable member 52 is moved atthe time. The movable member 52 of the rheostat is in the form of alever fulcrumed at 53 on a column 54, which also supports the rheostat50, and the said movable member 52 is provided with a shifting arm 55engaging a collar 56 held on a sleeve 57 forming part of a governor 60.The governor 60 is mounted on a shaft 61 journaled at its lower end inthe stand 54 and at its upper end in a bearing 62 arranged on a table 63located in front of the support .11 and in front of which rangethe'several players. Each of the players manipulates a crank disk 64secured to the upper end of the shaft 61 to rotate the latter at adesired speed. The governor 60 is provided with a head 65 secured to theshaft 61 and on the head 65 are pivoted the weighted arms 66 connectedby the links 67 with the sleeve 57 to move the latter up or downaccording to the increase or decrease in the speed given to the shaft 61by the player turning the crank disk v64 correspondingly. It will benoticed that normally the movable member 52 is at the right hand side ofthe rheostat 50 and when the player turns the crank disk 64 then thegovernor 6O imparts a swinging motion to the movable member 52 oftherheostat to move the movable member 52 successively in engagementwith the fixed contacts 51 thereby gradually increasing the speed of themotor. Now in case the player rotates the crank disk 64 at an excessiverate of speed then the movable member 52 moves past the last contact 51and hence the motor circuit is broken and the motor comes to astandstill.

In order to return the movable member 52 to starting position butwithout passing over the fixed contacts 51, use is made of a spring asshown in Fig. 2. Now on moving the movable member 52 from the left tothe right it passes up the spring end 71 and along the guide 7 0 withouttouching the fixed contacts 51. It is understood that when the crankdisk 64 is turned at an excessive rate of speed the movable member 52moves beyond the last fixed contact 51 onthe left hand side of therheostat 50 and hence the motor circuit is broken and the motor 36 comesto a standstill and remains so until the speed of the crank disk 64 isreducedand practically stopped to allow the movable member 52 to return.to starting position and to again close the motor circuit on restartingthe crank disk 64.

The motor circuit is broken automatically on aracing object 15 reachingthe goal at the forward end of the racing table 14. For this purpose theforward end of each racing table 14 is provided with two contacts and81, of which the contact 80 is in the form of a spring column out ofengagement with the contact 81 and adapted to be pressed in contact withthe same on thevbase 82 of the racing object traveling up the springcontact 80 and forcing the same downward into engagement with the con-.tact 81. The contacts 80 and 81 are connected with circuit wires 83,.84 donnected with a battery or other suitable source of electricalenergy 85 and the said circuit wires 83, 84 connect with anelectromagnet 90, the armature 91 of which forms a switch in the circuitwire 41 ofthe motor circuit, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. The armatureswitch 91 is normally closed but when the racing object 15 presses thespring contact 80 into engagement with the contact 81 then the electriccircuit for the electromagnet is closed and the latter is energized andattracts the switch armature 91 thus breaking the circuit for the motor36. The latter is now stopped and the corresponding racing table 14comes to a standstill. The electric circuit for the electromagnet 90 ofeach racing table 14 connects with an annunciator 92 of any approvedconstruction, and hence the latter indicates the number of the winner ofthe race, it being understood that the number corresponds to the numberon thecorresponding operating crank disk 64. Instead of a spring contact80 use may be made of two spaced contacts 95, 96 arranged in a block 97of insulating material and set in the front end of the racing table 14,as plainly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be noticed that when theracing object 15 is moving into winning position on the forward end ofits racing table, then its base 82 spans both contacts 95, 96 thusclosing the circuit for the electromagnet 90 and the annunciator 92.

It is understood that in vrunning the apparatus, the racing Objects 15are placed on the starting end of the racing tables 14 and then theindividual players turn their crank disk 64 to start the electric motors36 and to run the same at a higher or lower speed according to thespeedwith which the crank disks 64 are turned. The running of each motor36 causes a corresponding forward and backward movement of thecorresponding racing table 14 with a view tomove the racing objects 15intermittently forward, and when the racing object reaches the goal atthe forward end of the racing table 14 it 'closes the circuit for theelectromagnet 90 whereby the motor circuit is broken and the motor comesto a standstill thus preventing further movement of the racing table 14and of the racing object 15 thereon. It will also be noticed that whenthe racing object 15 reaches the goal the corresponding number isdisplayed by the annunciator 92 thus indicating the winner of the race.

In order to prevent non-players om actuating the racing table 14, use ismade of a bridging wine 100 spanning the wire 84 adjacent the contacts80 and 81, and in this bridging wire 100 is arranged a switch 101normally open to allow of proper action of the racing game apparatus, asabove described. The circult wlres 83, 84 are connected with anelectromagnet or solenoid 103 having its core 104 connected with ashifting lever 105 engaging a collar 106 forming part of the governorsleeve 57 of the governor 60. After a race is run the 1 racing objects15 are returned to startlng' position and in order to preventnon-players l from actuating the racing tables 14 prior to starting thenext race, the attendant closes the switch 101 whereby the electromagnet103 is energized and hence the governor60 is actuated and moved intohigh speed position. By the movement of the governor 60 the movablemember 52 is moved past the last contact 51 and is held in this positionuntil the switch 101 is moved back into open position. It will benoticed that the movable member 52 of the rheostat 50 is renderedinactive even should a non-player turn the crank disk 64 during the timethe switch 101 is closed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent -1. An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table,a racing object adapted to movement of the said racing table.

tor controlling device adapted to be actuated by a player and connectedwith the said motor to govern the speed thereof and hence the forwardand backward movement of the said racing table.

2. An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table, a racing objectadapted to travel on the said racing table, a motor connected with thesaid racing table to'move the same forward and backward, the said motorbeing of the electrical type, a rheostat in the circuit of the saidmotor and having a movable member, and a controlling device under thecontrol of a player and connected with the said movable member of therheostat to vary the speed of the motor and the 3. An amusementapparatus, comprising a-racing table, a racing object adapted to travelon the said racing table, a motor connected with the said racing tableto move the same forward and back\Vard,the said motor being oftheelectrical type, a rheostat in the circuit of the said motor and hav-'ing a movable member, a controlling device under the control of aplayer and connected with the said movable member of the rheostat tovary the speed of the motor and the movement of the said racing table,and means adapted to be engaged by the said movable rheostat member tohold the latter inoperative while returning it to starting position.

4. An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table, a racing objectadapted to travel on the said racing table, a motor connected with thesaid racing table to move the same forward and backward, the said motorbeing of the electrical type, a rheostat in the circuit of the saidelectric motor and having a plurality of fixed contacts and a movablecontact member adapted toengage the said fixed contacts, a shaft adaptedto be turned by a player, and a governor onthe said shaft and connectedwith the said movable rheostat member.

5. An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table, a racing objectadapted to travel on the said racing table, a motor connected with thesaid'racing table to move the same forward and backward, the said motorbeing' of the electrical type, a rheostat in the circuit of the saidmotor and having a movable member, and a controlling device under thecontrol of a player and connected with the said movable member of therheo-' stat to vary the speed of the motor and the movement of the saidracing table, and a controlling device under the control of theattendant of the apparatus and connected with the said controllingdevice to hold the 6. An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table,a racing object adapted to' the said fixed contacts, a shaft adapted tobe turned by a player, a governor on the saidshaft and connected withthe said movable rheostat member, and an electric controlling deviceunder the control of the attendant of the apparatus and connected withthe said governorto hold the said movable member in inactive position.

7. An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table, a racing objectadapted to travel on the said racing table, a motor connected with thesaid racing table to move the same forward and backward, the saidmotorbeing of the electrical type, a rheostat in the circuit of the saidelectric motor and having a plurality of fixed contacts and a movablecontact member adapted to engage the said fixed contacts, a shaftadapted to be turned by a player, a governor on the said shaft andconnected with the said movable rheostat member, an electric controllingdevice having an electric circuit provided with a normally open switchunder the control of the attendant of the apparatus, the said electriccontrolling device being connected with the said governor to move thelatter into high speed position on the attendant closing the saidswitch.

8, An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table, a racing objectadapted totravel on the said racing table, a motor connected with thesaid racing table to move the same forward and backward, the said motorbeing of the electrical type, a rheostat in the circuit of the saidelectric motor and having a plurality of fixed contacts and a movablecontact member adapted toengage the said fixed contacts, a shaft adaptedto be turned by a player, agovernor on the said shaft and connected withthe said movable rheostat member, and a returned guide for the saidmovable rheostat member to hold the latter out of engagement with thesaid fixed contacts during the return movement of the said movablerheostat member motor being of the electrical type, a rheostat in thecircuit of the said motorand having a movable member, a controllingdevice under the control of a player and connected with thesaid movablemember of the rheostat to vary the speed of the motor and the movementof the said racing table, an electric annunciator having an electriccircuit independent of the said motor circuit, and

an electric switch for the said annunciator circuit and controlled bythe said racing object.

10. An amusement apparatus, comprising a racing table, a racing objectadapted to travel on the said racing table, a motor connected with thesaid racing table to move the same forward and backward, the said motorbeing of the electrical type, a rheostat in the circuit of the saidmotor and having a movable member, a controlling device under thecontrol of a player and connected with the said movable member of therheostat to vary the speed of the motor and the movement of the saidracing table, an electric annunciator having an electric circuitindependent of the said motor circuit,- an electric switch for the saidannunciator circuitand controlled by the said racing object, and anelectromagnet in the said annunciator circuit and having its armatureforming a switch for the said motor circuit to break the latter and stopthe motor on the racing object clos- RICHARD M. BRENNER.

